Give your child a chance, take the laptops!

24.MAY.11

Editor: At this time in the history of the world when technology is advancing at a rapid rate, children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines now have an excellent and unique opportunity to excel.{{more}}

This has come about with the introduction of the ‘One Laptop Per Child and Teacher’ initiative by the present Unity Labour Party (ULP) government.

The acquisition of these, over 30,000 “free” laptops, is the initiative of Prime Minister Dr. Gonsalves, and his successful negotiation with the governments of Portugal and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This is a direct result of our Government’s aggressive foreign policy with non-traditional partners which says “We are friends of all and enemies of none”. This initiative seeks to ensure that there is equitable access to educational services and resources by all students.

Now, we are witnessing the implementation stage of the Laptop initiative, and some schools and several students and teachers have already received their “free” computers. Oh what a privilege! Think of the other Caribbean countries which are said to be better off economically than St. Vincent and the Grenadines… they must be green with envy at what St.Vincent and the Grenadines has achieved in successfully sealing this free laptop deal.

While this initiative has been lauded by Vincentians locally and internationally, there are some detractors who have donned their political spectacles and don’t seem to see beyond their political party colours. This negative position has discouraged some parents from participating in this positive initiative and thus places their children in an unfortunate position and could seriously retard their progress.

Parents must willingly come onboard and give their wards their fullest support in this venture or the end result will be that their children’s education will be compromised. The beauty of this free ‘One Laptop Per Child’ initiative is that it will see both rich and poor students having equal opportunity to excel in the swiftly advancing world of technology.

There is one question parents must ask themselves – Would this laptop be of tremendous benefit to my child? If the answer is yes, as I am sure it ought to be, what is the problem? This is the answer: People need to overcome the fear of change and progress, and embrace this golden opportunity with both hands.

Just a few days ago in the Barbados Nation newspaper, the story of a nine-year-old Barbadian girl, Rosonate Parsons, really touched me. The little girl who had her arms and legs amputated as a toddler, has not let her handicap deter her from being computer literate. The Hilda Skeete Primary School student is reportedly very proficient on the computer and uses a laptop to do her schoolwork. But now her laptop is broken and she is in need of a new one. Could you imagine how happy she would have been to be in St.Vincent and the Grenadines right now?

Physically unfortunate children, just like little Rosonate, and others who are economically handicapped, deserve to have an equal opportunity to expand their knowledge and compete in this

fast paced information age.

Please, parents, give them a chance! Who knows, there might just be another Bill Gates or Steve Job around the corner right here in St.Vincent and the Grenadines!

Education is KEY